Electric snap switch



Oct. 30, 1951 MlLLER 2,573,588

ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH Filed Jan. 21, 1948 g3 a 3%; L 7 2 l9 /5 i H I 2'|6 (7U U Fig I 5 EDWIN AUB'LJETMILLEHM BY I a, 0

- ATT) Patented Oct. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,573,588ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH Edwin August Miller, Fairfield, Conn. ApplicationJanuary 21, 1948, Serial No. 3,525

1 Claim.

This invention relates to actuator control of switch blades, and moreparticularly to blades of cantilever type.

The objects of the invention are to provide, for a, cantilever tensionblade, an actuator controlling upper and lower positions of rearextremity of said blade; to provide for a tension blade an actuatormovement that longitudinally shifts the blade; and to provide fortension blade a forwardly spring pressure means against which themovement of actuator to normal position is made.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the Figure 1 is an uprightelevation of the device illustrating the actuator and parts controlledthereby in one position; Figure 2 is a similar elevation butillustrating the actuator and controlled parts in a different position;Figure 3 is a plan view of the tension member; Figure 4 is a plan viewof the base of the device; Figure 5 is an upright elevation of aslightly modified form of device, and Figure 6 is a detail of furthermodification.

With more particular reference to the accompanying drawing, the numerall designates the base of the device having the terminals 2, 3, and 4depending therefrom. Secured to the upper surface 5 of the base I areupright supports 6 and I providing interfacing and relatively spacedstops 9 and I0, respectively. The support 8 is pivotally provided withthe rocking actuator ll having an arm l2 extending rearwardly of thesupport 8 and having a downwardly bent extremity l3 carrying withinpassage MB the rear extremity l of the tension member IS.

A compression member 5 is carried by the free extremity I! of thetension member Hi, the tension member l5 having an elongated opening I8therethrough.

Upper and lower contacts l9 and 20, respectively, are carried by saidfree extremity I! of the tension member l5 for movement therewithbetween spaced stops 9 and I0.

Secured upon the base I at the supoprt B is a spring 2| having anextremity 22 carrying the free extremity 23 of the compression member l6thereby normally positioned above the tension member 15.

To operate, force is applied, manually or otherwise, to press theactuator l l, thereby tilting the actuator ll upon the upright support8. Such applied force causes the bent extremity 13 to move upwardlycarrying therewith the rear extremity I4 of the tension member l5 abovethe extremity 23 of the compression member I6 and so relatively changingthe positions of said members l5 and I6 that the tension member becomesdistorted. Upon the sudden release of the distorted condition of thetension member I5 the free extremity l1 thereof is wipingly moved with asnap-action from engagement of the contact 20 with the stop Ill and intoa wiping engagement of the Contact [9 with the stop 9.

A return of the actuator I l to its normal position causes a reversedmovement of the several parts of the device with a snap-action of areturn movement of the free extremity ll of the tension member l5.

It is to be understood that the longitudinal shifting movement of thetension member I5 is due to the arc of movement of the bent extremity I3having a center 25 upon which the actuator ll pivots within the passage25A.

The Figure 5 illustrates a slight modification of the preferred form ofthe device. In the modified device, the forwardly spring pressureagainst the tension member I5A is accomplished by means of springpressure against the rear extremity MA of the tension member I5A whichis freely engaged within a passage 14B provided by the bent extremityI3A of the actuator II, the free extremity 23A of the compression memberI6A being held by the support 8A. In other words, the shifting force ofthe switch blade in the modified form is provided by the spring 2lAdirectly engaging the tension member ISA, while in the preferred formthe shifting force is provided by the spring 2| engagin the freeextremity 23 of the compression member [6. In operation, the results inboth forms of the device are practically similar.

The Figure 6 is a further modification wherein both of the springs 2|,of the preferred form, and 2 IA of the modified form of the Figure 5,are employed. Each spring 2| and 21A serves as a strut holding apartcertain members of the device as, with respect to the spring 2|, thecompression member extremity 23 from the rigid support 8, and withrespect to the spring 2IA, the tension member extremity I! from the bentextremity i3 of the actuator I I.

I claim:

A switch blade device having a base and comprising a tension member;upper and lower contacts with which the free extremity of said member isprovided for movement between relatively spaced stops; a rigid uprightsupport rigidly mounted upon said base; an upright cantilever springmounted upon said base and having a notched-like free nd adjacent saidupright sup- 3 7 port; a compression member carried by the said freeextremity of said tension member, said compression member having a freeextremity pivotally carried by said notched-like extremity of saidcantilever spring for relatively passing the free extremity of saidcompression member past said tension member; a rockin actuator having alimited sliding movement within an opening provided by said uprightsupport, said actuator having a rear extremity pivotally carryingthe'rear extremity of said tension member; said normally locatedpivot-point at the free extremities of said compression member and saidcantilever spring tor within said support opening and thus adapted I ,4to provide a quick snap-action of said blade for a given degree ofactuation.

EDWIN AUGUST MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number i Name 7 Date 2,135,864 Weber Nov. 8, 19382,170,748 Eaton Aug. 22, 1939 2,189,996 Riche Feb. 13, 1940 2,417,169Kaminky Mar. 11, 1947 2,429,813 Hausler Oct. 28, 1947 2,486,033 KaminkyOct. 25, 1949 2,486,061 Ransome Oct. 25, 1949

